An object is to provide a guide shoe having a simple structure and suppressing a significant shift in pitch line while reducing friction losses and preventing possible noise. In a guide shoe having a shoe surface on which a traveling chain is guided, the shoe surface includes a plate guide surface which is formed on an upstream side of the shoe surface in a shoe longitudinal direction and on which only chain plates are slidably guided, a guiding protruding portion which is formed on a downstream side of the plate guide surface and on which only a chain roller or a chain bush is guided, and a continuously transitioning protruding portion that smoothly connects the plate guide surface and the guiding protruding surface together. Plate escaping portions are formed on opposite sides across the guiding protruding portion in a shoe width direction to avoid contact with the chain plates.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tensioner lever that allows for reduction of the number of components and the weight, while being able to prevent vibration and noise during the running of the chain. The tensioner lever according to the present invention is configured such that a lever body rotatably supported on an attachment surface is urged to rotate toward the chain by the resilient force of a coil spring. The coil spring includes a pressing arm extending from one end of a helical part and contacting the lever body, and a support arm extending from another end of the helical part and supported by the attachment surface. The lever body includes an engagement portion configured to allow the support arm of the coil spring to be hooked thereon by resilient deformation, and to removably engage therewith by rebound resilience of the coil spring.

A guiding device for guiding a belt of a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission. The device includes a first guiding section and a second guiding section that is spaced from the first guiding section, and between which the belt is guided in a running direction. The guiding sections have a longitudinal extent that corresponds to the running direction of the belt and a transverse extent that is perpendicular thereto, and lateral edge sections that delimit the guiding sections in the transverse direction. At least one guiding section has at least one longitudinal rib that extends in the longitudinal direction and that is positioned apart from the lateral edge sections in order to improve the guiding device structurally and functionally.

A guiding device for guiding a belt of a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission. The device includes a first guiding section and a second guiding section that is spaced from the first guiding section, and between which the belt is guided in a running direction. The guiding sections have a longitudinal extent that corresponds to the running direction of the belt and a transverse extent that is perpendicular thereto, and lateral edge sections that delimit the guiding sections in the transverse direction. At least one guiding section has at least one longitudinal rib that extends in the longitudinal direction and that is positioned apart from the lateral edge sections in order to improve the guiding device structurally and functionally.

A chain drive for an internal combustion engine comprises a driving sprocket and at least one driven sprocket, a drive chain coupling the sprockets to each other, and at least one guide rail and/or one tensioning rail for guiding and/or tensioning the drive chain. At least the guide rail and/or the tensioning rail comprises at least two slide elements, arranged at a non-guided distance from one another for contacting the drive chain, such that at least two slide elements are arranged in at least one span of the chain drive. In at least one span, the ratio of guided chain length to non-guided chain length is smaller than 1. Such a chain drive is to be improved with respect to its vibration characteristics. To this end, the sum of the two non-guided lengths of the drive chain between a slide element and the respective nearest sprocket is, in at least one span, which is in contact with a guide rail and/or a tensioning rail with at least two slide elements arranged at a non-guided distance from one another, smaller than 0.5 times the total length of the respective span.

A chain drive for an internal combustion engine comprises a driving sprocket and at least one driven sprocket, a drive chain coupling the sprockets to each other, and at least one guide rail and/or one tensioning rail for guiding and/or tensioning the drive chain. At least the guide rail and/or the tensioning rail comprises at least two slide elements, arranged at a non-guided distance from one another for contacting the drive chain, such that at least two slide elements are arranged in at least one span of the chain drive. In at least one span, the ratio of guided chain length to non-guided chain length is smaller than 1. Such a chain drive is to be improved with respect to its vibration characteristics. To this end, the sum of the two non-guided lengths of the drive chain between a slide element and the respective nearest sprocket is, in at least one span, which is in contact with a guide rail and/or a tensioning rail with at least two slide elements arranged at a non-guided distance from one another, smaller than 0.5 times the total length of the respective span.

A tensioner uses a low rate torsion spring in a first stage and a high rate torsion spring in a second stage to maintain tension in a chain or belt. The first stage is connected to the second stage by a torque coupling. The high rate torsion spring is maintained in an energized state between a ground and a dead stop to store energy and to provide tension under high loads. In some embodiments, the torque coupling is a damper. In other embodiments, the torque coupling is a clutch. A method stores energy in a high rate torsion spring of a tensioner.

A tensioner uses a low rate torsion spring in a first stage and a high rate torsion spring in a second stage to maintain tension in a chain or belt. The first stage is connected to the second stage by a torque coupling. The high rate torsion spring is maintained in an energized state between a ground and a dead stop to store energy and to provide tension under high loads. In some embodiments, the torque coupling is a damper. In other embodiments, the torque coupling is a clutch. A method stores energy in a high rate torsion spring of a tensioner.

A chain guide and tensioning apparatus (10) for reducing friction and heat generated by said chain guide and tensioning apparatus (10) engaging a driven chain (16). A guide body (12) has an engagement surface (26) and a first aperture (54) extending through the guide body (12) and opening into the engagement surface (26). A guide face (14) at least partially overlays the engagement surface (26) and has a contact surface (44) configured to guide and tension the driven chain (16). A first recessed groove (46) is formed on the contact surface (44) and is in communication with at least one second aperture (48) extending through the guide face (14). The first aperture (54) is adaptable to receive and communicate oil from an oil source to the second aperture (48) and the first recessed groove (46) for reducing friction and heat from guiding and tensioning the driven chain (16).

A chain guide and tensioning apparatus (10) for reducing friction and heat generated by said chain guide and tensioning apparatus (10) engaging a driven chain (16). A guide body (12) has an engagement surface (26) and a first aperture (54) extending through the guide body (12) and opening into the engagement surface (26). A guide face (14) at least partially overlays the engagement surface (26) and has a contact surface (44) configured to guide and tension the driven chain (16). A first recessed groove (46) is formed on the contact surface (44) and is in communication with at least one second aperture (48) extending through the guide face (14). The first aperture (54) is adaptable to receive and communicate oil from an oil source to the second aperture (48) and the first recessed groove (46) for reducing friction and heat from guiding and tensioning the driven chain (16).